During her speech at the Billboard Latin Women in Music 2024 Gala, where she accepted the Global Impact Award, Camila Cabello thanked the women who have influenced her life and career.
Speaking in both English and Spanish, Cabello spoke with great emotion about her mother, who was in attendance for the music special, which aired on Sunday night (June 9). “I was thinking about what to say to you all tonight and I decided I wanted to take this opportunity to thank my mother. Honestly, I've never taken the time to talk about my mother like this before, so I wanted to do that tonight.”
Cabello praised her mother for her strength and her ability to comfort her in difficult times. “When the world is suffering, when we see news of war and death and a dangerous lack of compassion, it breaks my heart, but my mother reminds me that there is love in this world,” she said. “She inspires me with her boundless strength in who she is, and no matter how tired we are, she conveys endless energy to encourage my sister and me, showing us that there is hope in this world. My mother's best advice is not to tell us, but to practice it: kindness, empathy, and above all, how to treat people.”
The “I Luv It” singer was one of this year's Latin Female Music Award winners, which also included superstars Kali Uchis, Gloria Estefan, Kany Garcia, Ángela Aguilar, Ana Bárbara and Karol G. During her speech, Cabello acknowledged their contributions to music and expressed her love for Estefan, shouting him out multiple times throughout her speech.
“I am so honored to share this award with all these incredible women: Gloria Estefan, are you kidding me? Karol G, Ana Bárbara, Ángela Aguilar, Kany Garcia, La India, Kali Uchis. I love you all. You are all amazing. You have been and continue to be an inspiration to me and other women. So, salute you all. I love you, Gloria!”
Of course, she also thanked her fans and offered some advice to them: “To all my fans, never underestimate the power of your actions. Be kind to that shy new kid at school, stand up for a friend who's being bullied, and get involved in the causes you care about. Every kind act creates a chain reaction.”
Cabello added, “Every day I'm grateful to be Cuban, Mexican and from Miami. I'm proud to represent young people with stories like mine and be proof that it's possible. I owe it all to the kindness and generosity of so many people that I'm here to be here, and I remind myself every day to pass that on to the next generation. I love you, mom. I love you all. And I love you, Gloria Estefan.”
Listen to Camila Cabello's full speech below.
